Elsewhere in Columbiana County

Beeping signal boxes disrupting TV viewing

February 18, 2013

LISBON - Several residents have complained the beeping sounds coming from the new traffic light signal boxes are interfering with their television viewing.

The issue was raised last week by Councilman Jeff Snyder, who said several residents have complained about the audible beeping sound that goes off when the traffic light is about to change from green to red. The beeping is to assist visually impaired pedestrians in crossing the street, and it remains activated long enough to allow the pedestrian to cross the street until the light is about to change back to green.

The residents living near some of the intersections where the new signal boxes have been installed are complaining the beeping sound occurs all day and night and is so loud that it interferes with their TV viewing.

"I've had the same complaints in my office. They are saying it interrupts their TV," said police Chief Mike Abraham.

Abraham said there is a problem with the signal boxes located on corners at some of the intersections. The beeping is supposed to cease at 11 p.m. when the traffic signal becomes a flashing light and then everything switches back at dawn, but the beeping is continuing throughout the night instead of quitting.

The new traffic lights are the responsibility of the Ohio Department of Transportation, but Abraham said ODOT has yet to assume formal responsibility since their installation last fall.

In another matter at last week's meeting, council decided to sign off on the West Chestnut/Cedar streets storm sewer project, allowing for release of the last of the money due contractor Dave Sugar Excavating.

This was done after council decided to take no further action in regard to Cedar Street resident Ed Day, who complained his property had been damaged during the project.

The only unresolved issue was compensating Day for an easement the village needed during construction.

The village agreed to compensate him $250, but Day has yet to sign the agreement, despite repeated attempts to get him to do so.

"He didn't accept it, so we're not going to pay it," said village Solicitor Virginia Barborak, who recommended they ignore the matter and move on, which council agreed to do.

Another issue left over from the project involved replacing a rare magnolia tree at the Persic residence on West Chestnut Street after it had been removed during construction.

Sugar and the village agreed to split the cost of a new tree, with council paying $397.